Senior mine action officials have dismissed the way Thailand tried to use new landmines to support its unfounded accusations against Cambodia, dismissing the whole performance as no more than theatre, and even warning that it may in fact have suggested a breach of the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines. Heng Ratana, director-general of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), addressed Thai allegations that Cambodia employed new land mines during the recent border clash as he answered journalists’ questions during an August 18 press conference. He noted that based on his observations, most of the mines displayed…
Author: Niem Chheng
Cambodia has once again issued categorical denials about repeated accusations from Thailand that it planted new landmines along their shared border, calling the claims unsubstantiated. It has now begun advocating for a joint, impartial investigation to address the issue. Speaking at a press conference this morning, August 18, Senior Minister Ly Thuch, first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), detailed the Kingdom’s compliance with the Ottawa Convention Anti-Personnel Mine Ban and its extensive mine clearance efforts. “Cambodia has not, and will not, plant new landmines,” Thuch reiterated, pointing to the country’s track record of removing…
In the little know village of Prey Chan in Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province, Neang Choeun sits in her wheelchair, her eyes fixed on the barbed wire and tyre barricades that now mark the edge of her world. The 60-year-old grandmother has called this land home since 1983, a time when she cleared landmines with her own hands to carve out a life here. Now, Thai soldiers have forced her and five other families from their homes, erecting barriers that slice 200 to 300 metres into Cambodian territory. The air is heavy with uncertainty, and Neang’s voice trembles with both sorrow…
Today’s August 16 Cambodia-Thailand Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting saw both sides agree on importance of closer communication, while Cambodia called for Thai forces to halt the installation of barbed wire on Cambodian territory. The meeting, held in Trat Province, Thailand, was led by Lieutenant General Uy Hieng, commander of Cambodia’s Military Region 3, and Vice Admiral Aphichat Sapprasert, commander of Thailand’s Chanthaburi-Trat Border Defence. A Military Region 3 press release explained that both sides agreed in principle to establish a Coordination Group (CG) to strengthen relations at all levels, including commanders, border liaison teams, border-deployed forces, and operational units…
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation spokesperson Chun Sounry has called on Thailand to not politicise the Ottawa Convention, while clarifying misleading information that Thailand will host a meeting of the member states of the anti-mine agreement in Bangkok tomorrow, August 15. Sounry used this afternoon’s press briefing to warn that misleading claims are spreading online that suggest that tomorrow’s gathering would produce a consensus against Cambodia regarding Thai claims that recent landmine incidents in Thailand were caused by Cambodian forces planting new mines. He explained that Thailand is actually hosting a diplomatic briefing tomorrow, which it use to…
The Indian embassy in Phnom Penh hosted a send-off function for 20 Cambodian officials from the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) who will travel to India for a 10-day training programme on Countering Illegal Drug Trafficking at the National Academy of Customs, Excise, and Narcotics in Palasamudran, from August 18-29. The August 13 event was attended by Indian ambassador Vanlalvawna Bawitlung and secretary of state Ket Sophann, who represented Neth Savoeun, Deputy Prime Minister and NACD chair, said an embassy press release. The initiative is fully funded by the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme of the Indian…
Members of the ASEAN Interim Observer Team (IOT) departed Phnom Penh this morning for a tour of Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces, where they will assess the implementation of the current ceasefire agreement. Led by Lieutenant Colonel Nazlee Bin Abdul Rahim, Malaysian military attaché to Cambodia, the team’s members are drawn from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam. The Cambodian Ministry of National Defence is coordinating their deployment. According to ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata, the IOT will visit Military Region 5 in Battambang, as well as the An Ses area in Preah Vihear, an area…
Cambodia has once again demanded that Thailand immediately halt all actions which violate the ceasefire, such as the laying of new barbed wire at the border, which infringes on Cambodia’s sovereignty. The latest Thai provocations reportedly occurred in Banteay Meanchey province. Maly Socheata, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, told an August 13 afternoon press conference that Thai para-military and border police laid barbed wire and placed car tires barricades in Chok Chey village, O’Beichak commune, O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province on August 12 and 13. “Cambodia demands that Thailand immediately and unconditionally stop all activities which violate the…
The Phnom Penh administration has prohibited the use of cigarettes and all kinds of smoking devices on the riverside pedestrian street “Walking Street” every weekend. The municipal authorities explained that they aim to promote a clean, green, safe and vibrant tourism destination. According to an August 12 directive issued by Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng, the public is prohibited from smoking or emitting tobacco smoke in public spaces along the roads, including public gardens, areas in front of restaurants, or shops along Preah Sisowath Quay, starting from 6pm every weekend. He stated that banning smoking on the pedestrian street will…
The Cambodian Ministry of National Defence has once again firmly rejected Thai accusations that Cambodian troops planed landmines near Ta Mone Temple. A Thai patrol reportedly triggered a land mine explosion this morning, August 12. Thai media outlet Khaosod English reported that a team of Thai rangers was patrolling near the temple to “monitor and maintain security” in the area. During the patrol, a soldier stepped on a landmine. It said the Thai army believed the mine was a PMN-2, and that one of the rangers lost a leg in the explosion. Maly Socheata, defence ministry spokesperson, categorically dismissed the…